PHILIPSBURG – Windy Hill Village in Philipsburg is expanding with construction of a new senior apartment building with state-of-the-art energy efficiency. A groundbreaking was held Thursday, and visitors learned about what will make this building unique.

The design, referred to as Passive House, will be one of less than 50 in the United States. Mike Gwin, a partner with Rothschild Doyno Collaborative, the architects for this project, explained that this building will use one-half to one-third of the energy of similar structures with traditional building and planning.

The building will incorporate twice as much insulation. This will result in half of the normal winter heat loss and half of the normal summer heat gain and allow for more efficient heating and cooling. The windows and doors will be made with triple layers, and all lighting will include LED bulbs. Low flow water fixtures will be included, as well.

Additionally, the building will be airtight with a filtered fresh air system. All this and more will result in long-term sustainability and the savings in operation of the building can be reinvested by Presbyterian Senior Living towards other programs.

Westminster Place will be a four-story building with 37 one-bedroom and 11 two-bedroom units, and there is already a waiting list, though the ribbon cutting isn’t planed until early 2018.

Stephen Proctor, chief executive officer of Presbyterian Senior Living, noted that the many housing options presented by the organization exist at 30 locations in four states and are the work of 90 years of providing for senior citizens.

Several speakers noted the need for affordable senior housing in Centre County, with Commissioner Mark Higgins adding that the county is the second fastest growing county in the state.

Stan LaFuria, executive director of the Moshannon Valley Economic Development Partnership, added the growth at Windy Hill Village is part of three to four years of “terrific projects” in the Moshannon Valley region.

He said the property of the former Philipsburg Hospital has also been purchased by MVEDP as a commerce park, joking that they had to buy it before Windy Hill did.

Construction will begin soon with R.S. Mowery & Sons. The company first began working with Presbyterian Homes in the Presbytery of Huntingdon in the early 1940’s and current president Don Mowery said they are pleased and excited to be working with the Presbytery on this newest project.